Apparatus for pumping liquids



Feb. 2, 1932. T. T. woRD 1,843,258

APPARATUS OR PUMPING LIQUIDS Filed Feb. 9, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 2, 1932. v1: T. woRD y APPARATUS FOR PUMPING LIQUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1929 ljgg. :lmj Ilm@ Patented Feb. 2, 1932 TATES TRACY T. WORD, OFHOUSTON, TEXAS APPARATUS :FOBl PUMPING LIQUIDS The invention relates particularly to a method and apparatus for use in pumping liquid, such as in pumping oil from wells.

There have been various methods and apparatus for raising the liquid from wells, including the usual pumps both reciprocating and rotary types, and also methods wherein the liquid is raised by means of fluid pressure, such as air, steam or gas; but each of the foregoing have some objections thereto, such as excessive wear of the device used, the weight of the operating parts, and with the air-lift pumps high fluid pressures were necessary in order to raise the liquid, which occasionally make the cost prohibitive.

It is one of the objects of the invention therefore to provide a means and method which is very simple in its construction and operation and which is economical to pump the liquid.

Another obj ect of the invention is to devise a structure which may be entirely enclosed in a single housing which may be readily inserted into the well and operated to raise the liquid.

Another object of the invention is to arrange an apparatus which will be automatically operable dependent upon the accumulation of a static head of liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement whereby the admission of pressure fluid is controlled by a rotatable device which is operated by the accumulation of a predetermined amount of the liquid to be pumped.

A still further object of the invention is toV provide a novel method of controlling the inlet of both the liquid and the pressure fluid so that they are automatically controlled to obtain the most efficient results.

The invention pertains generally to that class of pumping apparatus in which pressure fluid is used to raise the liquid from the well.

Other and further objects of the inventionl will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains when the following description is considered. The invention, however, is not to be limited by the disclosure herein as various alterations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The drawings herewith show forms which the invention may assume and Fig. 1 showsv a central vertical section of the upper end of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the lower end of the device which is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 60 3--3 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the upper end of the device but showing a slightly modified form which the invention may as- 6i sume.

Fig. 5 is a central section of thelower end of the device of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken on the lines 6 6 and 7 7, respectively, of 70 Fig. 4.

The apparatus 1s particularly adaptable for raising oil from deep'wells vand the structure shown Yin Figs. 1 and 2 is adapted to be attached to a string of tubing, indicated at 1, which is of the usual structure used in oil wells.

This tubing 1 is usually employed with an outer string of casing which is used to sustain the walls of the well and exclude 8o ground water and other extraneous matter. The string of casing has not been shown as it is of usual construction. Attached to the tubing 1, I have shown a housing indicated generally'by the numeral 2. This housingy S5 may take any desired form but I have shown it here as including a tubular body closed at its ends by an upper plug 3 and a lower plug 4, which are threaded to the housing as at 5 or suitably connected by a coupling as 90 at 6. Either form of attachment may be used. Connected to the upper plug 3 is a nipple 7, which may be threaded thereto or otherwise attached. This nipple 7 acts as a coupling between the plug 3 and the tubing 95 `1. The upper end of the plug 3 which passes into the nipple 7 is shown as forming a seat for an outlet or check valve indicated generally at 10. This valve includes a seat 11, cage 12 and ball 13. Obviously, however, any 100 suitable type of valve may be used at this point.

The invention contemplates the use of pressure fluid in the housing 2 whereby the liquid which has accumulated therein may be exhausted. Tn order that the liquid may accumulate due to the static head present in the well bore, the eiitii'e housing 2 is lowered to a po-iiit such that it immersed in the column of liquid in the well. The plug 4 may seat upon a strainer pipe or other apparatus if desired or it may seat directly on the bottom of the well bore. The plug 4 has a centi'al opening 15 tliei'eiii which is partially closed by a valve seat 1S adapted to i'eceive an inlet 0r standing valve, 17. The seat 16 has a downwardly tapered sui'- face 18 which co-operates with the valve 17 to forn a complete closure. There may be a plurality of wings 19 on the valve 17 which sei've to centei' the valve but permit liquid to pass.

Inside of the housing 2 there is shown what may be termed a bucket indicated by the numeral 20. This bucket or float is adapted to move vertically within the housing` to act as a valve controlling' device. As liquid passes the normally open valve 17 and accumulates it will rise around the bucket 2O which consists of a tubular member 21, closed at its lower end by a plug 22 having a leak valve 23 therein. A suitable spider or guide bracket 24 may be used to steady the lower end of the bucket. This bucket 20 has a shield 25 mounted on the upper end thereof and is provided with a plurality of screened orifices 26 near the top of the cylinder 21 so that liquid may flow into the bucket. Thus when the liquid accumulates in the housing 2 to a sullicient height a portion of the liquid will flow through the orilices 26 into the intei'ior of the bucket filling the same and causing it to be lowered as will be later described.

The buck-et 20 has attached to the top thereof a rod 3() which, as best seen in Fig. 1, is connected to an ai'm 31. This ai'in 31 is shown as attached to a scr-ew member 32 by means of a set screw 33 or it mayl be otherwise affixed. This arm 31 has sufficient length that it may exert the desired leverage upon the screw 32 to rotate the same upon the i'ise or fall of the bucket 20.

Fig. 1 shows the screw member 32 as mounted within a partition 34 which is iiiserted into the housing 2 at the uppei' end. This partition is best seen in plan view in Fig. 3 and is constructed to contain a plurality of valve ineinbers. The reference chai'- acter 35 indicat-es a fluid pressure inlet valve, which may be of any described type., to close the inlet passage 36 through the plug This passage 33 is connected with a fluid pressure pipe 36 which it is understood extends to the sui'face of the well and is connected to a suitable source of fluid pressure,

such as natural gas, compressed air, or steam, as may be desired.

Tt will be seen that the shaft 32 is constructed with a spiral thread which permits it to move a considerable distance upon a very slight rotation. Tn this manner the valve 35 is moved backward so that it opens the passage 36 to connect with an inlet 37 and thus permits the flow of pressure fluid through the inlet 37, which may connect with a suitable pipe 33, which extends to the lower end of the housing, as best seen in Fig. 2.

The partition 34 also carries an outlet valve 40 which is placed in a passage 41 which opens into the housing 2. This valve 40 closes the passage 41 which leads into the inlet passage 37, and the escape of pressure fluid through the outlet 41 is past the valve 40 and through the inlet 37 up to the end of the screw 32. Thel screw 32, as seen in Fig. 1, has an axial passage 42 theretlii'ougli. This passage has a cylindrical seat- 43 formed thereon at the lefthand end of the screw 32. Said seat is adapted to contact with the ball inlet valve 35 and when the screw is rotated to bring the valve seat 43 into contact with the ball 35, the exhaust passage 42 will be closed to the incoming pressure fluid. The exhaust passage 42 is continued through the partition 34 and is connected with the exhaust pipe 45, which passes through the plug 3 and terminates there above. Tt is to be understood that the construction and detail of the various parts here may be altered without departing from the spirit of the invention and they may be constructed so as to assure the most simple fabrication as they are here shown for purposes of illustration only.

The incoming pressure fluid will flow through the valve 35, pass around the end of the screw 32, and through the passage 37 to the interior of the housing. This iiii'ush of pressure will raise the exhaust valve 40 so that it will be maintained in closed position and the inlet fluid pressure can only pass through the pipe 3S. It is obvious that when the screw 32 is withdrawn the ball valve 35 will seat and close the inlet passage 36. but as the screw 32 is further retracted it will withdraw the seat 43 and thus open the exhaust passage 42.

The arni 31 which has the rod 30 connected to its lower side has a suitable tension spring 50 connected to the upper end thereof. This spring 50 may be connected to a cross bar or other member 51 which is supported by the plug 3. The arrangement here shown is a cross member placed in the opening of the plug 3 directly below the seat 11 of the check valve. llt is understood that any suitable strength spring may be placed in this position in order to secure the desired operation oi" the device.

The lower end of the bucket carries the leak valve 23 as previously described. This valve 23 is connected by means of a rod 52 to the inlet valve 17 by any suitable connection 53. The valve 17 may be of any desired construction and it is here shown as having a plurality of fins 19 thereon which permit the flow of liquid therebetween when the valve is lifted off the surface 18. The rod 50'carries a stop member 55 which is adapted to contact with the plug 22 of the lower end lof the bucket 20. A second stop member 56 is shown on the bucket 21 and is adapted to contact with guide member 24. A shield member 58 is shown as tapering from the tubing 1 down over the plug 3 in order to secure a measure of protection for the exhaust outlet 45.

The method of operation of the pumping apparatus is as follows:

The housing 2 is immersed in a static head of liquid in the well. The spring 50 is so constructed that it will substantially balance the weight of the bucket 20, rod 52 and the valve 17, so that they are suspended from the spring 50. The spring thus normally retains the bucket 20 in a raised position so that the valve 17 is raised away from the surface 18. In this position'the screw 32 is rotated so that it is withdrawn from the inlet valve 35 which will thus be closed. The opening of the valve 17 permits a flow of liquid into the housing, due to the static head around the outside of the apparatus and within the casing of the well. VThis flow of liquid gradually rises within the housing 2 until it surrounds the bucket 20. As it nears the top of the bucket 2O the liquid begins to flow into the orifices 26. At this time the leak valve 23 is closed against its seat on the plug 22 because it is supporting the valve 17 in open position by means of the rod 52. As the weight of the liquid flowing through the orifice 26 increases it overcomes the preponderance of the spring 50 and the bucket 20 begins to settle with respect to the housing 2`and partition 34, which is fastened to the housing 2. As the bucket settles it causes pivoting of the lever 31 and the consequent rotation of the screw 32. This screw is so threaded that upon this rotation it will move to the left and contact with the ball valve 35 as the bucket moves to the lower position. The valve 35 thus opens and permits a flow of pressure fluid through the passages 36, 37 and the pipe 38 where it is discharged into the lower end of the housing 2. As the bucket 20 moves tothis lower position to admit the pressure fluid the plug 22 also Amoves downwardly and may Contact with the stop member 55 so as to push the rod 52 and the valve 17 downwardly to the closed position and thus cut olf the accumulation of liq uid within the housing 2. This same movement causes the leak valve 23 to be raised off its seat on the plug 22 and the liquid which has'passed into the bucket 2() gradually begins to leak therefrom. The discharge of pressure fluid from the pipe 38 aerates the liquid within the housing 2 and raises it upwardly past the partition 34, the spring 50 and raises the outlet or check valve 10 so that the fluid passes upwardly into the tubing 1. As this blowing or exhaust of the liquid continues the weight of the liquid in the bucket 20 is gradually decreased, due to the leak around the valve 23. As the pressure fluid exhausts the liquid from the housing 2 the pressure fluid will strike against the shield and'will in a measure serve to assist the spring 50 in raising the bucket 20 at the proper time when a sucient amount of liquid has been discharged from the housing 2 and also when the proper amount of liquid has leaked past the valve 23 out of the bucket 20. It is appreciated that the opening around the valve 23l and the admission of a sufficient pressure iiuid may be adjusted as well as adjustment of the spring 50, in order to obtain the proper balance of the several structures. When the proper balance is obtained the bucket 20 will thus function to fall upon the accumulation of the liquid to be pumped and thereby admit the pressure fluid. When the proper amount of pressure fluid has been admitted and the liquid discharged., the bucket will thus rise and permit the valve to seat and cut off the flow of pressure iiuid. When the pressure fluid is thus cut olin it is desired to release the accumulated pressurel within the housing 2 in order that the check valve 10 will seat, and also to permit the static head of liquid to again flow through the valve 17.

To accomplish this, 'the outlet or exhaust valve 40 has been provided. This valve is in the passage 41 and as soon as the pressure fluid is cut 0H at 35 the ball 40 will drop by gravity away from its seat in the passage 41 and any residuary pressure in the housing 2 will be permitted to escape past the valve 40 to the passage 37 through the seat 43 and screw 32 whereby it will pass into the eX- haust pipe 45 and be discharged out around the tube 1 into the casing of the well bore.

In the operation of the apparatus as here described it will be seen that the only waste of pressure fluid will be a volume equal to the volume of the housing 2 at each heading of the liquid pumped. The liquid is thus forced upwardly into the tubing 1 by the pressure fluid and is in an aerated condition so that it will not constitute a column of as great weight as would be encountered were unaerated iiuid being pumped. The embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 7, inelusive, operates von the same principle as the modification just described. The structure is substantially the same but a different construction has been substituted for the partition 34. This modification shows the control structure for lthe fluid pressure inlet and outlet valve as including an inlet 36, which may or may not be connected with a pipe such as 36 of Fig. 1. This inlet 36 leads to the pressure inlet valve 35 which is adapted to seat in a plug 60. The plug (i is carried by a plug 3 which is somewhat similar to the plug 3 of Fig. 1. Th-e passage 36 connects with a suitable pipe 38 which leads to the bottom of the housing 2.

r1`he spring 50, bucket 20, check valve 10, as well as the valves 17 and 3 in this modification, are the same as those previously described. The shield of the bucket 20, however, is modified to some extent and is provided with a pair of eyelet members 61 which are adapted to receive the ends of a U-shaped member 62. The U-shaped member forms the central portion of a rotatable or pivotal inember 63, which is carried by suitable set screws 64 mountd in the side of the housing 2. A lever arm 65 is carried by the member 63 and is adapted to be raised by movement of the bucket 20, which is communicated to the llshaped member 62 by the eyelet 61. Thus it will be seen that as the bucket 20 falls it will cause the lever 65 to rise. The inlet valve 85 carries a push rod 66 which is adapted to rest upon the lever 65. In this manner as the bucket 2O falls the inlet valve 35 will be raised and admit a flow of pressure fluid. A lever arm 67 is mounted on the opposite side of the member 63 but carries an eyelet 68 which is connected by means of a rod 69 to the exhaust valve 40. This valve seats in the exhaust passage l1 similar to the construction in Fig. 1. This valve 40, however, is an upwardly seating valve and is adapted to be retained in closed position due to the pressure within the housing 2. From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the valves 35 and 40 are operated to open and close upon the rise and fall of the bucket 2O in very much the saine manner as are the valves of Fig. l.

The herein disclosed embodiments of the present improvements are believed to be entirely satisfactory and practical for the purpose in view. Nevertheless, it is to be understood that the several essential parts may be constructed in various other alternative forms and, it is accordingly to be understood that in the further development of the device the privilege of resorting to all sueh legitimate changes therein as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed, is hereby reserved.

Having described the invention what is desired to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid pressure pumping apparatus including a housing, a container therein, fluid pressure inlet and outlet valves in said housing, and means within said housing and rotatable upon accumulation or discharge of a predetermined amount of liquid in said container to operate .said valves.

2. A fluid pressure pumping apparatus including a housing, a container therein, fluid pressure inlet and outlet valves in said housing, and means movable upon accumulation or discharge of a predetermined amount of liquid in said container to operate said valves whereby the flow of pressure fluid to said housing is controlled, said means including a rotatable screw.

3. A fluid pressure pumping apparatus including a housing, a container therein, fluid pressure inlet and outlet valves, and means movable upon accumulation of a predetermined amount of liquid in said container to operate said valves and to stop the accumulation of liquid.

t. A fluid pressure pumping apparatus including a housing, fluid pressure inlet and outlet valves in said housing, means movable upon accumulation of a predetermined amount of liquid in said housing to operate said valves, and a liquid inlet valve adapted to be opened and closed by movement of said means.

5. A fluid pressure pumping apparatus including a housing, fluid pressure inlet and outlet valves in said housing, means movable upon accumulation of a predetermined amount of liquid in said housing to operate said valves, a liquid inlet valve adapted to be opened and closed by movement of said means, and a check valve to close a liquid outlet from said housing.

6. A pumping apparatus comprising a housing, a fluid pressure inlet, and a fluid pressure outlet in said housing, a single rotatable means adapted to control the flow of pressure fluid thru said inlet and said outlet, a bucket adapted to rise or fall with the variation of liquid in said housing, arms connecting said means and said bucket whereby said means is rotated upon movement of the bucket, a leak valve in said bucket, a liquid inlet valve to said housing connected to said leak valve and adapted to open upon movement of said bucket to close said leak valve.

7. A pump apparatus including a housing adapted to be immersed in the liquid to be pumped, liquid inlet and outlet valves on said housing, fluid pressure means connected to said housing, a float in said housing adapted to rise when said housing is empty and to fall when filled with liquid, and valves in said fluid pressure means operable by said float whereby the fluid pressure is released and the liquid in said housing is exhausted thereby.

8. A fluid pressure pumping apparatus including a housing to receive the liquid being pumped, means to receive a predetermined amount of the liquid to be pumped, additional means operable by said first means upon movement thereof, due to the weight of the liquid received, to admit pressure fluid to eXhaust the accumulated liquid from said housing.

9. A pumping device wherein the liquid being pumped is raised by iuid pressure, a housing, a liquid inlet and an outlet therein, means including a liquid receptacle to periodically admit pressure iiuid to said housing, the period of said means being controlled by the overbalancing of the liquid receptacle when lled or emptied by an accumulation and discharge of liquid to be pumped.

10. A control mechanism for a fluid pressure pumping mechanism including a pump housing, a bucket adapted to be illed and discharged with liquid to be pumped, means operable on the filling of said bucket serving to admit pressure fluid to the pump housing and means operable on the discharge of said bucket serving to cut 0H the entrance of pressure iiuid.

11. In a pressure iiuid pump mechanism, a pump chamber, an inlet pressure fluid valve therein, a screw to actuate said valve, a bucket movable to float and sink in the liquid being pumped, and means connecting said screw and bucket whereby movement of said bucket will open or close said valve.

12. In a pressure fluid pump mechanism, a pump chamber, an inlet pressure fluid valve therein, a screw to actuate said valve, a bucket movable to iioat and sink in the liquid being pumped, means connecting said screw and bucket whereby movement of said bucket will open or close said valve, and a fluid pressure relief valve also operable by movement of said screw.

13. In a pressure luid pump mechanism, a housing, a liquid inlet valve therefor, a bucket movable in and by the liquid being pumped, and means connecting said bucket and valve whereby said valve may be opened` or closed upon movement of said bucket.

14. In a pressure fluid pump mechanism, a housing, a liquid inlet valve therefor, a bucket movable in and by the liquid being pumped, means connecting said bucket and valve whereby said valve may be opened or closed upon movement of said bucket, and a leak valve in said bucket also operable by said means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 5th day of February, A. D.

TRACY T. WORD. 

